All
combined events training programmes are a compromise which must be well balanced
and appropriate to the athletes status and abilities. The development of a young
combined event athlete involves 4 stages: Pre-specialisation, Initial
specialisation, Intermediate specialisation, and advanced specialisation.

Due
to the varied physical requirements and number of techniques to be learnt,
combined events athletes typically peak in their late 20's. Below is a summary
of the physical requirements for the decathlon and heptathlon, also below are
the physiques of some successful athletes.